Review: The Fragile Ordinary by Samantha Young

"There's something nostalgic and almost magical about reliving first crushes, first loves and high school friendships all over again." ~ Misty, White Hot Reads

I have to admit I am usually not a huge YA/Teen book fan but I think as my son gets closer and closer to this age I find myself seeking these out to remind myself of that time. It really takes something special in this genre to keep me engaged and this author did that with The Fragile Ordinary.

Young captured the essence of those formidable teenage years of finding oneself, learning how to navigate life, first crushes and loves and even learning the value of true friendships. Don't get me wrong, with the magic of those things in this book, Young also tackled some of the darker parts of what kids are living through and at times this book was heartbreaking.

First let's talk about the darker parts of this book. Bullying, drugs, parents indifference to their child, and fatal illnesses are all touched in this book. I loved that Young did not glorify the "bad boys" or even girls in this book but shone a true light on how drugs and bullying can affect not only the individuals but all those around them. These are things we seem to be taking lightly in this world today but TFO makes one realize that this is something we NEED to be dealing with on a much larger scale and with a heavier hand.

Relationships were another hot topic in this book. Relationships between the teens with their parents and of course with each other. All the different issues touched on something we go through everyday whether it be friendships going through rough patches, divorce, death of a loved one or just a parent not being present and how all of that can shape a person is those critical years we all go through. Although at some point I think my heart broke at every single relationship by the end I was content with how the author handled them all.

I think the best part of this book was seeing Comet blossom from a girl hiding in the shadows to someone who realized her worth and that although she felt invisible she was in fact not. That sometimes those who are quiet and keep to themselves can shine brighter than anyone. Seeing her blossom under the encouragement of Tobias, her best friend, her teacher and eventually her dad was hands down the reason this book worked so well. She faced each and every obstacle in her way and learned that keeping quiet and in the shadows was not the answer to get the things in life she wanted.

All in all this was a great book. I'm not convinced I would read it again but I do and will recommend it to not only my peers but those with teens. I think this book could be a good bridge to talking about all those issues no one wants to talk about but are so very necessary.

People expect extraordinary things from a girl named Comet. That she’ll be effortlessly cool and light up a room the way a comet blazes across the sky.

But from the shyness that makes her book-character friends more appealing than real people to the parents whose indifference hurts more than an open wound, Comet has never wanted to be the center of attention. She can’t wait to graduate from her high school in Edinburgh, Scotland, where the only place she ever feels truly herself is on her anonymous poetry blog. But surely that will change once she leaves to attend university somewhere far, far away.

When new student Tobias King blazes in from America and shakes up the school, Comet thinks she’s got the bad boy figured out. Until they’re thrown together for a class assignment and begin to form an unlikely connection. Everything shifts in Comet’s ordinary world. Tobias has a dark past and runs with a tough crowd—and none of them are happy about his interest in Comet. Targeted by bullies and thrown into the spotlight, Comet and Tobias can go their separate ways…or take a risk on something extraordinary.

Samantha Young is the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of adult contemporary romances, including the On Dublin Street series and Hero, as well as the New Adult duology Into the Deep and Out of the Shallows. Every Little Thing, the second book in her new Hart’s Boardwalk series, will be published by Berkley in March 2017. Before turning to contemporary fiction, she wrote several young adult paranormal and fantasy series, including the amazon bestselling Tale of Lunarmorte trilogy. Samantha’s debut YA contemporary novel The Impossible Vastness of Us will be published by Harlequin TEEN in ebook& hardback June 2017

Samantha has been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2012 for Best Author and Best Romance for On Dublin Street, Best Romance 2014 for Before Jamaica Lane, and Best Romance 2015 for Hero. On Dublin Street, a #1 bestseller in Germany, was the Bronze Award Winner in the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2013, Before Jamaica Lane the Gold Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2014 and Echoes of Scotland Street the Bronze Medal Winner for the LeserPreis German Readers Choice Awards for Best Romance 2015.

Samantha is currently published in 30 countries and is a #1 international bestselling author.

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